Qualitative Analysis of an Inorganic Mixture

ABSTRACT
Students are given a mixture of two salts (up to two different cations and two anions) and required to
identify the cations and ions in the mixture. The students are given a series of tests to perform,
including precipitation, redox, and physical (colour, flame emission) tests, all of which are qualitative
and can be done with standard glassware (test tubes, bunsen burners, etc.). Cations are from d-, s-, and
p-block elements; cation tests are hierarchical to eliminate/choose cations by solubility groups. Anion
tests are individual.
Equipment
No special equipment required. Some tests should be done in a fumehood. Test tubes, spatulae,
beakers, etc.
Safety Hazards
No particular hazards. Utilizes an H2S reagent which is smelly/toxic, some metals and reagents are
toxic and/or environmentally hazardous. Ether (highly flammable) is used. Halogenated solvents are
considered carcinogenic.
Year Level:
Student time required:
Instructor time required:

2nd year introductory inorganic

9-10 hours; three 3-hour lab periods minimum, probably four is better
initial set-up in week one, preparing samples and solutions ~10 hours??
subsequent weeks - negligible

Technician notes?
Study question solutions?
Contact:

Available upon request

Available upon request
Craig MacKinnon (craig.mackinnon@lakeheadu.ca)

Chemistry 2351: Inorganic Chemistry I

Laboratory Manual
Instructor: C. D. MacKinnon
Department of Chemistry
Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies

Experiment One:
Qualitative Analysis of an Inorganic Mixture
In this experiment, the student will learn how to test for inorganic cations and anions, then identify the
contents of an unknown mixture.
CAUTION: When the lab manual instructs you to run a test in the fumehood , do so! Many of the
tests and reagents will emit toxic and/or vile smelling gasses!
Introduction
Inorganic chemicals have enormous industrial and commercial importance. For example, the single
largest chemical produced in the world is sulfuric acid. Therefore, being able to identify and to
understand the reactivity of inorganic species is important, and is the topic of this experiment.
Naturally, some of these chemical tests are obsolete in terms of identifying unknowns (many would be
superceded by spectroscopic or mass spectrometric instrumental analyses). However, the chemistry
used in these tests are a compendium of the common reactions - acid/base, precipitation, and redox
reactions - that are still used commonly in industrial and academic settings.
In your lab book, you will need to make a table for your observations. Careful observations are the
key to understanding the reactions and identifying the unknown. We suggest the following style:
Operation

Observation

Deduction

flame test

white powder gives orange flame

Na+ and/or Ca2+

The operation is the experimental procedure. Observation is a list of everything you noticed evolution of gas, precipitation, dissolution, colours, etc. Deduction is what you can conclude from the
test.
The reporting of your experimental results should allow conclusion of what your unknown mixture is.
Once you have deduced a formulation for your unknown, (if time permits) you can test it by obtaining
the components from the lab instructor and doing the test on the known species. In addition, you will
have the opportunity to perform all the tests on known compounds before you start working on your
unknown. Take advantage of the opportunity because every chemist has a different touch and your
neighbours test result may look slightly different from your own.
Unknowns will be made up of two cations and one or two anions. The following species are possible:
Cations:
Anions:

Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Fe2+ or 3+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Ag+, Sn2+,
Pb2+, NH4+
Cl-, Br-, I-, NO3-, S2-, HPO42-, SO42-, S2O32-, CrO42-

Experiment 1 - CHEM 2351

Techniques
1.

Unless otherwise stated, use 10-20 mg of solids (this is the amount that will balance on the tip
of a spatula). If you wish to calibrate your spatula, use the analytical balance, but do not
weigh things each time - it takes too long!

2.

Unless otherwise states, use test tubes. You can calibrate the test tubes and droppers by
measuring with graduated cylinders. Use of grad cylinders each time is time-consuming.

3.

Use a glass rod, or tap the side of the test tube with your finger, for mixing. DO NOT shake
with a thumb over the top! Even if wearing gloves, some of the materials are quite toxic,
acidic, etc., and some can pass through the glove material.

4.

Be clean! Contamination could lead to false positive and/or ambiguous results. Remember
that your skin has NaCl, for example, which is one of the possible unknown compounds!

5.

Warm = place sample in a beaker of hot water. Heat = gentle heating with Bunsen burner.
Remember to point tubes away from yourself and others!

Experimental Procedure
PART 1: PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
(a)

Look carefully at the sample. Colours and consistency can tell you something about the
compound. The following cations will often have the following colours
Alkali and alkaline metal salts are usually colourless
Cr
(+3) deep green; (+6) bright orange/yellow
2+
very faint blush pink
Mn
Fe
(+2) pastel green; (+3) yellow to brown
2+
purple or brown
Co
Ni2+ pale green
Cu2+ blue if ligated (e.g. with water), white otherwise

(b)

Flame tests: moisten the end of a platinum wire and dip into the salt you are testing. Heat the
wire in a Bunsen burner. Common flame colours are:
Na+
K+
Ca2+
Sr2+
Ba2+
Sn2+
Pb2+

(c)

street-lamp orange
lilac
could be brick red or orange like Na+
bright red
light green
light bluish (could look like K+)
no colour, but salt may melt into a blob and fall onto bench

Ammonium salts will often have a distinctive odour.

Experiment 1 - CHEM 2351

PART II: CATIONS

(a)

(b)

Prepare a solution of your unknown by putting 0.02 g of sample in a test tube and add one of
the solvents below. If it does not dissolve, warm it. If it still does not dissolve, discard and try
the next solvent. Proceed down this list in order, stopping when you find one that works.
NOTE: you will need 1 g of solid for Part III so make sure you set some aside!!
(i)

1 mL of distilled water

(ii)

1 mL of dilute HCl

(iii)

10 drops of conc. HCl, heat with care, then dilute

(iv)

8 drops of conc. HCl and 1 drop of conc. HNO3

(v)

1 mL of dilute HNO3 (if sample immediately dissolves, boil to nearly to dryness and
add 1 mL of water)

(vi)

1 mL of conc. nitric. Proceed as for (v). Caution: be careful with heating, make sure it
is in the fumehood.

Choosing a cation group. Once you have a solution, follow the flow chart to determine the
group to which your cation belongs. These groups are not periodic groups, but rather groups
with simlar solubilities. These are done sequentially, using the same solution throughout.
Once a group is chosen, perform the confirmatory tests for that group.
Group I = Ag+, Pb2+
Group II = Cu2+, Sn2+
Group III = Fe2+, Fe3+, Cr3+
Group IV = Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+
Group V = Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+
Group VI = Na+, K+, NH4+, Mg2+
Group I

Add 1 mL of dilute HCl (if no HCl used as solvent). Cool and scratch inside of
tube with glass rod and wait at least 1 min.
Centrifuge. A precipitate indicates Group I
If no ppt, proceed to Group II.

Experiment 1 - CHEM 2351

4
SUMMARY OF GROUP SEPARATIONS

To a solution of the cation, add HCl

ppt:
AgCl
PbCl2

Solution, ions of:

Na, K, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sn, (Pb)*, NH4
Add H2S
ppt:
CuS, SnS, PbS

Solution, ions of:

Na, K, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, NH4

add (NH4)2Sx

Add NH4Cl and NaOH

ppt:
CuS
PbS

ppt:
Fe(OH)3
Cr(OH)3

soln:
(NH4)2SnS3

Solution, ions of:

Na, K, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Mn, Co, Ni, Zn,
NH4
Add H2S
ppt:
MnS
CoS
NiS
ZnS

Solution, ions of:

Na, K, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, NH4
Add (NH4)2CO3
ppt:
CaCO3
SrCO3
BaCO3

Solution,
ions of:
Na, K, Mg, NH4

I
II
III
IV
V
VI
* Since PbCl2 has some solubility in water, it will ppt in Group I and the remnants will ppt in Group II
SUMMARY OF PRECIPITATES FROM PRELIMINARY TESTS FOR CATIONS
group

metal and soln colour

group reagent

group ppt

colour

silver
lead

dil. HCl

chloride

white
white

II

copper - blue soln

(lead)
tin

H2S and HCl

sulfide

black
black
dark. brown

III

iron - green-yellow soln

chromium - deep green soln

NH4+ and OH-

hydroxide

red-brown
green or mauve

IV

manganese
cobalt - pink soln
nickel - green soln
zinc

H2S and OH-

sulfide

pink
black
black
white or grey

calcium
strontium

(NH4)2CO3

carbonate

white
no ppt

Experiment 1 - CHEM 2351

Group II

Take two drops of the solution from Group I. Add 10 drops water, add a few
drops of H2S (aqueous thioacetamide) solution and warm. KEEP THIS
SOLUTION IN THE FUMEHOOD!! (the entire lab with know if you don't!!)
Centrifuge. A precipitate indicates Group II.
No ppt: Discard IN HOOD! Go on to Group III.
If the test gives a copious ppt (should be coloured), dilute sample in Erlenmeyer
to 6 mL. Warm and add a few more drops of H2S. Decant, centrifuge and retain
solid for confirmatory tests. If you havent yet found your second cation, it may
be in the liquid - boil to remove H2S (gently! in the hood!) and proceed to Group
III test.
NOTE: A small amount of black flecks usually indicates PbS. This is generally
only an indication of Pb contamination, especially if you found Pb2+ in Group I.

Group III

Add 2 drops of conc. HNO3 and boil, then add 1 mL of 2 M NH4Cl solution.
Dilute to 5 mL (in a flask) and add 50% NH3 until alkaline (red litmus).
Centrifuge (will need more than one tube). A ppt indicates Group III. CAREFUL:
these ppts might be transparent! Save ppt for confirmatory tests.
No ppt, go on to Group IV.

Group IV

Warm sample and add a few drops of H2S (HOOD!).

If a ppt forms, warm and add more H2S. Mix well and centrifuge. A ppt
indicates Group IV. Save ppt for confirmatory tests.
Note: If the solution is not colourless, bring to a boil and centrifuge again.
The brown is colloidal NiS that should ppt with this second
treatment.
No ppt, proceed to Group V.

Experiment 1 - CHEM 2351

Group V

Boil down to 1 mL (HOOD!). (see note under Group IV, above) Transfer to a test
tube and add 1 mL of ammonium carbonate solution. Warm (do not boil!).
Scratch and let stand for 5 min.
Centrifuge. A ppt indicates Group V.
The solution will contain any Group VI cations you have. If you havent found
your two unknown cations by this point, youll have to do the confirmatory tests
for Group VI.

(c)

Confirmatory tests for cations. These tests are performed on the ppt you isolated in each group
test. They will show which specific member of the group you have.

Group I

Wash ppt with cold water. Add 2 mL of water and warm well. Centrifuge.

ppt: add 1 mL dilute NH3, warm

ppt dissolves, add dil. HNO3

solution: divide into 2 samples

(i)
add dil. acetic acid and K2CrO4 soln
(ii)
add KI solution

white ppt: SILVER

yellow ppt in each case: LEAD

Group II

Wash ppt with hot water. Add a few drops of ammonium sulfide solution and
warm.

if ppt doesnt dissolve:

warm ppt with 1 mL water and 10 drops
of conc. HNO3. Centrifuge. Add 50%
NH3 to soln until a slight excess.

if ppt dissolves:
add 2 mL conc. HCl and centrifuge. Add
HgCl2 soln to test soln.
white ppt: TIN

Blue solution: COPPER

Experiment 1 - CHEM 2351

Group III

Wash ppt with water. Warm with 1 mL of NaOH and 1 mL of H2O2 until
effervescence ceases. Centrifuge.

ppt: red-brown = Fe
dissolve rest of ppt in 2 mL dil. HCl. Add
potassium ferrocyanide
blue soln: IRON

solution:
acidify with acetic acid; add lead acetate
soln
yellow ppt: CHROMIUM

test original substance with potassium

ferricyanide
blue soln: FERROUS
no blue: FERRIC

Group IV

Wash group ppt with water. Mix mL dil. HCl and 1 mL of water and pour onto
ppt. Mix well (do not warm). Centrifuge.

to ppt: heat with mL conc. HCl and

a crystal of KClO3; divide into
portions for testing

to soln: boil to expel H2S. Add 2 drops of

H2O2 and then NaOH until there is excess.
Warm, then cool and centrifuge

to one portion, add dil. NH3 until

alkaline, then 2 drops of dimethyl
glyoxime
pink ppt: NICKEL

Brown ppt: MANGANESE

to confirm: fuse small amount of ppt on
porcelain with KNO3 and K2CO3
green mass: MANGANESE

to another portion, add equal volumes

of acetone and KCNS
blue solution: COBALT

Soak filter paper in soln; add tiny drop of

cobalt nitrate soln; ignite in crucible
green ash: ZINC

Group V

Divide group ppt into 2 parts

To one part of group ppt, dissolve by pouring in 2 mL of warm dil. acetic acid.
Add 50% NH3 until alkaline. Add 1 mL ammonium oxalate soln. Stir and stand.
White ppt: CALCIUM
Wash the other part with 50% ethanol (aq). Dissolve ppt in 1 drop of 4 M
CH3COOH and 5 drops water. Add 1 drop 2 M sulfuric acid and 4 drops of
ethanol. Centrifuge and moisten residue with HCl and do flame test.
Crimson flame: STRONTIUM
Green flame: BARIUM

Experiment 1 - CHEM 2351

Group VI

Boil off ammonia in crucible, add mL of water.

(i)

to a portion (few drops) add a few drops of 50% ammonia and 1 mL of

sodium phosphate soln. Stir and stand.
white ppt: MAGNESIUM

(ii)

to another portion (few drops), add an equal volume of zinc uranyl acetate
soln. Scratch and stand
slight white ppt: SODIUM (check with flame test!)

(iii)

evaporate the rest of the solution in a crucible - heat until no more fumes
are seen. When cool, dissolve residue in 1 mL dil. acetic acid. Add 1 mL
of cold (freshly made) sodium cobaltinitrite. Stir.
yellow ppt: POTASSIUM (check with flame test!)

(iv)

to a small portion of your original solution, add conc. NaOH and warm
gently. Place a moistened piece of red litmus over the top of the test tube.
red litmus turns blue: AMMONIUM
caution: NO3- anion may give a false positive

PART III: ANIONS

Take 1 g of the unknown solid, add sodium carbonate solution (you will need up to 8 mL at the end of this
procedure) and boil gently (in beaker of hot water) for a few minutes. Centrifuge and retain the solution.
This is the test solution for anions.
CHLORIDE

To 1 mL of the test solution, add 6 M nitric acid until solution is slightly acidic,
then add 10 drops of 0.1 M AgNO3. A white ppt is AgCl. The ppt should be
soluble in conc. NH3 (aq).

BROMIDE or IODIDE

Acidify 3 drops of the test soln with 2 M sulfuric acid, add 1 drop of
5% NaClO, and a few drops of CH2Cl2 and mix vigorously. Brown
in the CH2 Cl2 layer is Br2, purple in the CH2Cl2 is I2.

SULFATE

To 1 mL of the test soln, add 6 M HCl until soln is acidic. Add 10 drops of
BaCl2 soln. White ppt is BaSO4.

SULFIDE

To 1 mL of the test soln add dilute HCl and sodium nitro-prusside. A violet soln
indicates the presence of S2-.

THIOSULFATE Take 6 drops of the test soln, add 2 M sulfuric acid and 0.5 mL of 1% AgNO3
soln. A creamy-yellow ppt turning brown, then black on warming, indicates
S2O32-.
CHROMATE

To 1 mL of the test soln, add dilute HCl and 2 drops of H2O2. A blue colour that

Experiment 1 - CHEM 2351

fades rapidly indicates CrO42-. (To verify, you can repeat this test in the
fumehood adding 10 drops of ether - the ether layer should retain the blue
colour.)
HYDROPHOSPHATE

NITRATE

To 1 mL of the test solution, add conc. nitric acid ammonium

molybdate (1 mL). Stand in hot water. A yellow ppt indicates a
phosphate species (this will work for PO43-, HPO42-, and H2PO4-).

Almost all metal salts of nitrate are soluble, so a redox reaction must be used
to verify nitrate. Combine 1 mL of the test soln and 1 mL of 4 M NaOH soln.
Add a piece of aluminium foil. Ammonia will evolve in the presence of nitrate.
Test by holding moistened litmus paper over the neck of the flask. The
ammoniac smell should be obvious as well.

Final Report
For your report, you will need to fill in the question sheet at the end of this lab. You will have to identify
your unknown (remember to write down your unknown number!) and give reasons for your assignment.
These reasons will include detailed observations, including your path through the group tests and specific
observations in the confirmatory test and any other physical observations (flame test, etc.). (The following
would not acceptable as a justification: Confirmatory test for X positive.) Finally, you will have to
supply the chemical reactions of the test reactions you did. Of course, if no obvious reaction took place,
it probably means that no reaction took place at all! Just supply reactions for which you saw a chemical
change (colour, ppt, gas evolution, etc.). Precipitation reactions are the most common - use your Ksp tables
from your 1st year text as a reference source. Redox reactions are also possible, as discussed in class.
Remember: unknowns will have 2 cations and either 1 or 2 anions.
References/Bibliography:
For purposes of the lab writeup, you might want to use:
General information:
Miessler and Tarr, Inorganic Chemistry, 3rd Edition (2351 text)
Zumdahl and Zumdahl, Chemistry, 8th Edition (1110/1130 text)
redox chemistry:

Wulfsberg, Inorganic Chemistry (library course reserve)

specific tests:

Vogel, Textbook of Macro and Semimicro Qualitative Inorganic Analysis, 5th

edition (library reserve, QD 81 V87 1979)
Lagowski and Sorum, Introduction to Semimiro Qualitative Analysis, 3rd
edition (library reserve, QD 81 S71)
Slowinski and Masterton, Qualitative Analysis and the Properties of Ions in
Aqueous Solution (Aisley has a copy of this)

CHEMISTRY 2351 REPORT SHEET

Experiment One:
Qualitative Analysis of an Inorganic Mixture
NAME:______________________________

DATE: ______________________________

UNKNOWN NUMBER: ________________

My unknown mixture contains the following cations: _______________________

My unknown mixture contains the following anion(s): ______________________

ANION #1
Justification:

Confirmatory test reaction:

ANION #2 (if present)

Justification:

Confirmatory test reaction:

Experiment 1 Report Sheet

Cation #1:
Justification:

Group test reaction(s):

Confirmatory test reaction(s):

Cation #2:
Justification:

Group test reaction(s):

Confirmatory test reaction(s):

NAME:___________________________